While South African mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu has been drumming up investment support for her country's mining industry at a major conference in Australia, events at home have been undermining her message. John Feary reports

In the 9 years since it was launched, the Africa Down Under conference in Perth has grown to be the second largest of its type (behind Indaba). This year a dozen government ministers have joined over 2000 delegates for the three-day event